CuttingWater

Monday, August 22, 2016

Lake George : Clean Water



Hi everyone,
After a successful April crossing of the beautiful cobalt blue Hawaiian Molokai Channel (with Elizabeth Fry) and a successful 2-person Swim Across the Sound relay (with my twin sister, Beth);

I’m finishing up my 2016 Open Water Swim Season with the
 
Lake George Marathon.  

This is a long 32 mile lake, so we're planning on another 17 hour-ish swim.
 
Whether you are an open water swimmer or someone who likes to paddle on a raft, or take a shower with clean water ... we all can benefit from keeping our water clean.
 
 
I’m fundraising for the Darrin Freshwater Institute of RPI.            Donation information can be found at:

DFWI is a multidisciplinary environmental research center of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute dedicated to understanding the structure and function of aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric systems. Their primary research focus is on the ecological consequences of environmental perturbations due to human activities in the Northeastern United States.  http://www.rpi.edu/dept/DFWI/

They are doing some pretty interesting studies to keep our water clean.
Come follow us during the swim, all info is on my blog (below): you will be able to track our progress during our night swim into the following day.
Lake George Marathon: September 17, 2016
 

 
Thank you for your time and interest.
Have a sparkling summer and Dream, Prepare, Succeed
 
Love, Peace and Friendship
and THANK YOU, Thank You, thank you.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed
Marcy
 
 
 

Thursday, August 18, 2016

CONGRATULATIONS Reeven : 2016 English Channel Crossing

Nathan Boys solo of mind and body….Swim Stories from the “support crew”
Finished...

Big brother Reeven had a goal to swim.  Little brother Levy agreed to support and swim too.  Reeven is a professional triathlete with open water experience.  Levy is a high school swimmer focused on his long course season championship meet which completed just days before the flight to England.  Levy trained mostly in a 50-meter pool and Reeven competed in open water in the Atlantic.  But both were determined. 

We arrived in England to 5 days of waiting...with phone calls suggesting possible swims followed by aborted trips due to weather.  We met with the chief pilot Michael Oram ... Who took a look at the boys and remarked..."you are way too skinny for a trip...I’ve seen these skinny fast swimmers come and go.  No bloody way you will have success."  We were unprepared and demotivated.

Other professionals around showed before and after photos...most had gained 20 percent of their body
weight.... for fat and warmth.  Reeven gained 6 pounds and levy was a lean, mean long course swimmer.

This psyched everyone out.   We also we learned that our prep in terms of food, food delivery and training was WAY SHORT.  The boat and pilot drive you...the swimmer is responsible for everything else.... nutrition, delivery, motivation, towels, blankets, crew food, etc.  But we had the compassion of Alimpiada Cassidy.  She sorted us out in terms of feeding schedule and delivery.  She gave us critical support, optimism and a new vision for success.

The call came at 8pm…a 3rd time swimmer Anne, an amazing 72-year-old women from Connecticut, was to swim at 4am on Sunday and a slot would open when the boat returned...in the pm.  We started to get ready.  Eventually the slot was to leave at 5pm....which meant swimming mostly in the dark.... but Reeven jumped on it.  What to do for support?  There was a support team of one and we were psyched out...a support team of one would not be successful in supporting the swimmer.  Levy made his first sacrifice:  rather than staying back to train and prepare for his own swim, he chose to stay back and be on the boat to support Reeven.  Family support matters.

Then the phone rang again...Levy could swim at 8pm this same Sunday.  This would likely be Levy’s only window as the tide was ending and weather was changing.  But Levy stood firm...resolved to help Reeven realize a dream.

Fast forward:  16 hours to cross and feeding every 30 minutes had Levy prepping food, boiling water on a ship burner and cheering on his brother.  I got seasick 20 minutes out...and was of limited use.  Thanks to Levy....

2 miles from France, Reeven was literally asleep.... he has awake a full day and swam a full night.  What did Levy do?  He jumped in to support his brother on the last 2 miles into France.  Rules for a certified swim are strict:  support cannot be in the water for longer than 1 hour and cannot lead the
competing swimmer from the front.  Levy (un) dressed and jumped.

Reeven was completely out of it...swimming in different directions away from the boat.  He stopped at one point and stared at a shipping vessel...he thought IT was France.  He stopped and marveled a buoy.... thinking it France.  All the way..."swim Reeven...you are doing great.  I will get you there."

Levy emotionally pushed Reeven to the beach in France....victory.  Reeven was dreaming...he was literally asleep...and now had to return to the boat...again Levy was able to negotiate with Reeven....he was not to climb the beach to "go home."  He could not enter the home above the bluffs.... he had to return to the boat.  Levy was the support....

Reeven succeeded in his goal to swim the Channel.  And Levy was a critical part of this mission.  The return boat ride to England was ruff.  The seas turned choppy and our return ride took twice as long as usual.  And this weather will continue through the tide...meaning Levy will not have an opportunity to swim.  Cancelled or delayed swims are quite common...but people sacrificing spots so others can swim....and going to support them...are not common at all.  Reeven and Levy Nathan are the heroes of this story.


Pudding and Porridge may fuel the body and sustained Reeven on his swim to France.  But there is no substitute for the helping mind and body of a younger brother.  Levy swam to France too...he crossed the Channel...albeit not in the traditional fashion of a solo swim.

And along the way...they raised nearly 15k for Keshet…..a school for disabled children.



I am in awe of Reeven's physical and mental toughness....and equally so with Levy's kind heart and selfless love.

2015 ... Swimming for Homes for the Brave

After spending the past 20 years paddling from Dover to France, it is time to venture into new waters, while helping some special people.
Soon, I will be traveling with my A-team to Scotland to swim the length of the famous Loch Ness.
As always, I try to help a Foundation raise funds and awareness and I thank you for interest and support.
I am deeply troubled with the thought of homeless individuals, especially in our US Veteran population.

That is why I am teaming up with our Connecticut-based “Homes for the Brave”. Can you imagine not having a place to call home?

Here is more information about Homes for the Brave! -Facebook pages – https://www.facebook.com/pages/ABRIHomes-for-the-Brave/199613606735630?ref=hl

- Annual Appeal with more information about our financials and programs- http://www.homesforthebrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HFTB-2014-Annual-Report-FINAL.pdf

-Check donations can be mailed to the following address:
Homes for the Brave
655 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604

- Donations can be made online as well: https://homesforthebrave.isecuresites.com/products/index.php?type=1110

Please write “Loch Ness Swim/Marcy” to track your donation.


I will always be dedicating my swimming to all those battling cancer and in the memory of 4 special people in my life. Cancer first hit my family when I was young. My grand-aunt Eleanor Kersavage, passed away with uterine cancer and my Auntie Bea Halchak battled with brain cancer.

On January 1, 2002, our LEHY family lost Nikki Giampolo to bone cancer, just turning 16 years old. Her spirit still lives on in our East Hartford swim team.

In July of 2009, my brother-in-law, Gregory Allen Urban, who passed away, after a valient battle with lung cancer. I can see him now, talking about cars and projects around the house, music and his family.

I know Aunties, Eleanor and Bea, Nikki, Greg and all the angels will help me CUT through all this water this summer.

The St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, based in Bridgeport, CT provides financial support for the needs that Health insurance companies don't cover, in addition to providing affordable cancer screening, wigs, medication and other things to make life easier for those suffering with cancer and their families.

Please make a donation, and thank you.

Online donations can be made at: http://give.stvincents.org

or you can send a check through the post to:

Swim Across the Sound
St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation
2800 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(203)576-5451

Thank you so very much, peace and good health to all.